Author : Lavanya Arora
Picture yourself stepping into a scene right out of The White Lotus: a lush green landscape where time slows down just for you. But instead of a looming suspense hanging in the air, you’re on a true path to learning yoga, achieving mindfulness, and finding serenity. If you prefer having your plate of calmness with a side of adventure, you can always add in a dash of hiking and surfing as well. Sounds too good to be true? Not if you ask thousands of travellers who fly to Sri Lanka for exactly the same reason.
But planning for such yoga retreats comes with its own issues. Sure, Sri Lanka offers an almost cinematic premise for travelling with a set purpose, but there can be one too many destinations to choose from. One moment you’re searching for “Best Yoga Retreats in Sri Lanka” on Gmaps, and the very next you’re overwhelmed with a screen full of hotels and resorts across the country. Instead of going on to the next step, you shut your screen and go back to bed, bury your head in the pillow, and scream. Maybe you do need that yoga retreat more than you know.
Worry not, we got you.
This comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know about yoga retreats in Sri Lanka. We’ve divided the guide into separate sections with answers to questions that plague most travellers.
Types of Yogas and Yoga Courses Offered in Sri Lanka
Chances are, if you’re looking for a yoga retreat in another country, you already know its basics. But on an off chance that you’re starting from the very beginning of your spiritual journey, here are the major types of yogas practiced and taught in Sri Lanka:
- Hatha Yoga: literally meaning ‘force’ yoga, this practice employs the use of a human’s physicality to instill discipline and attain peace. It usually focuses on asanas (postures), and pranayamas (specific breathing exercises). It’s also usually considered as the best entry point into the multidimensional world of yoga for beginners and early practitioners.
- Ashtanga Yoga: literally meaning ‘eight limb’ yoga, wherein every limb denotes a separate aspect that makes us human. These include the above mentioned asanas and pranayamas, along with yamas (ethical and social conduct), niyamas (self-discipline and rules), pratyahara (sensory control), dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation), to reach the final state of samadhi (superconsciousness). Now clearly, this is a much more complex form of yoga meant for intermediate to advanced practitioners.
- Vinyasa Yoga: literally meaning ‘disposition of limbs’ yoga, this is a form of Ashtanga yoga that puts special focus on transitioning smoothly between different asanas and breathwork. It’s beginner friendly too.
- Yin Yoga: arising from the ancient Chinese tradition of yin and yang (passivity and activity), this type of yoga is quite new compared to its counterparts. This practice is said to bring inner harmony through holding a posture for extended periods of time. It stretches deep connective tissues and joints.
- Yoga Teacher Training: If you’ve attended short yoga retreats earlier or have been practicing yoga for a while and want to learn about their philosophies at an even deeper level, enrolling yourself in a Yoga Teacher Training program might be the perfect way to do so. They usually range from 100-hour to 300-hour long programs.
- Meditation and Mindfulness: don’t let this type of retreat’s lack of physical training make you think it would be a walk in the park. After all, most of the time we’re running away from our thoughts, something meditation and mindfulness can help us come to terms with.
Tip: It’s always better to enquire with a potential retreat via email/call about your specific needs and how they can help you reach your goals with the best available plans.
Some Reputable Yoga and Meditation Centres in Sri Lanka
Whether you’re looking to enroll in 200-hour yoga teacher training courses, do yoga drop-in hopping from one studio to the other, or short stays for meditation and mindfulness, Sri Lanka has numerous options to choose from. Just to make things a little easier for you, here are a few trusted yoga and meditation centres:
- Lanka Yoga on Koggala Lake, Habaraduwa
- Talalla Retreat, Talalla
- Vipassana Meditation Centre, Dhamma Kuta, Kandy
- Polwaththa Yoga & Meditation Retreat, Kandy
- Meth Bo Sewana Meditation Center, Thiththagalla
- Green Peace Inn, Weligama
- Sri Yoga Shala, Unawatuna
Please make sure to check their websites or call them well in advance, as retreats and training courses can be pre-registered and pre-booked events.
Other Activities Usually Paired Up with Yoga in Sri Lanka
Whether you crave a side of adventure with your yoga or silence, the country’s got you covered on all aspects. Depending on whether you’re at a yoga retreat on a beach-side town or in the forest-mountainous regions, these are a few of the most popular activities that can be paired with your daily practice:
- Surfing
- Hiking and Trekking
- Wildlife Safari
- Meditation and Silent Retreats
- Ayurvedic Food and Healing
- Cultural Immersion
Favourite Destinations for Yoga Seekers in Sri Lanka
- Arugam Bay: Also a favourite surfing seekers’ destination, this east coast town offers a fantastic blend of both adventure and inner peace. There are several centres offering yoga retreats in all budgets. You can also go on a one-day trip to the nearby Kumana National Park to immerse yourself in nature’s healing presence.
- Hiriketiya: Along with Weligama, this is the southern coast’s favourite surfing destination. You have the option to choose from a short 3-day surf and yoga retreat to a 10-day meditation and yoga classes at most of the centres here.
- Mirissa: Somewhere between Hiriketiya and Weligama, this southern coast town also offers surf and yoga retreats. But it also provides other options such as a massage retreat. If you’re lucky, you may even get to go whale spotting around town. Just promise never to take not spotting a whale as a sign of a failed retreat or that the universe is set against you. Please.
- Ella: If beaches and surfing are not your jam, first we’d like to offer our condolences to the spirit of joy in your heart. Next, we offer a hilly alternative for your next perfect yoga retreat. Dotted with centres that blend ayurvedic healing and food along with mindfulness programs and yoga, Ella is the ideal destination for introverts and escapists alike. Which one are you? Don’t worry, the retreat will help you get to an answer.
- Kandy: A city of great importance since the 14th century, don’t let its urban setting take away the potential of spiritual awakenings here. You may choose to stay at a yoga centre within the cultural capital of the country or a bit further away from it. They will both offer a chance to learn a great deal about the place’s history and its people.
Offbeat Destinations for Yoga Seekers in Sri Lanka
- Kalpitiya: Located on the north-western coast, Kalpitiya is emerging as a new destination for travellers and yogis alike. You get to choose from 3-day budget yoga retreats to 98-day intensive wellness retreats, as per your liking and affordability. If you’re the adventurous type, you may also learn how to Kite on a surfboard.
- Knuckles Mountain Range: If you’ve always dreamed of being a monk, several yoga centres established around this UNESCO-recognised mountain range can help you have a taste of that experience. For a fraction of the actual required discipline and resilience. Sweet deal, right?
- Sigiriya: Combining ayurveda with yoga, most of the centres around this area in the heart of the country offer double benefits to those seeking an inner balance. You can sit or walk around one of the several lakes and even visit nearby national parks for a change in the scene.
If you also plan on backpacking across the country before or after your yoga retreat, we’ve got just the guide for you: https://tuktukrental.com/things-to-do-in-sri-lanka-for-backpackers/
Budget Considerations
Sri Lanka offers quality stay, travel, food, and activities for all sorts of travellers. From those on a shoestring budget to yogis with a mid-range budget to those wanting to indulge in a luxury yoga retreat, the country’s buzzing with options for all. While most retreats are inclusive of all three daily meals along with some healthy snacks and lots of herbal tea, it’s always a good idea to check with the centre directly before booking. If you plan to attend yoga retreats in different parts of the country, or travel around with a fresh perspective afterwards, there’s no better option than renting and driving your own tuktuk. And yes, it works out well for all the budgets. Here, let us tell you all about renting your own tuktuk in this guide.
Safety Tips for Solo Travellers
- Read through tripadvisor and google reviews of potential yoga retreats centres
- Search for the centres on Instagram and go through their posts’ comments
- Enter the centre’s name on Google and search the News tab for any stories on them
- Purchase a local SIM or get an e-SIM and keep enough balance on it
- Choose a trusted transport service (hint-hint, tuktukrental is the best and most trusted self-driven transport service in the country)
But because life is entropy, and all our efforts to make things right can also unravel, we’ve got you covered by being just a call away for any tuktuk-related issues.
Packing Essentials
- Yoga mat: Even though most retreats can provide you with a yoga mat, if you’re a germaphobe or want to practice yoga beyond your sessions, it’s best to carry your own.
- Breathable clothing: This can’t be stressed enough. If you’d be doing physically intensive training, you’d require something that doesn’t constrict your body’s movements and lets it breathe. That might be quite counterintuitive to your entire yoga practice.
- Insect repellent cream or spray: you know, to keep the ever-hungry mosquitoes as far away as possible.
- Water bottle and emergency protein bar: a preferably steel, or otherwise high-grade plastic, reusable water bottle can really help you stay hydrated throughout the day. Make sure to set a periodic reminder on your phone to prompt you to drink some water. And do keep a couple of protein bars that you may also eat as a cheat meal on one of the days. A little motivation goes a long way, right?
- Travel adapter: Now, while the guests in White Lotus may be required to keep their phones away for the duration of their stay, you don’t have to. Make sure you have a country compatible travel adapter to keep the phone going. And just because you’re going through a journey of self-reflection, you don’t have to cut yourself off from your friends and family. Or your social media following for that matter. Just try to be more present in the moment. After all, it’s as simple (or difficult) as that.
Also, consider downloading the Tuktukrental Travel App. It features offline maps and offbeat recommendations and even helps fellow tuktuk-ers on the road connect for information or just a few post-drive beers – or the local Sri Lankan arrack if you are feeling adventurous!
